DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Community Development to give details on the Day Activity Centres for the Elderly with respect to (i) the number run by Government and by voluntary welfare organisations; (ii) the adequacy of the number of centres and of the quality of service to meet the needs of the present aged population; and (iii) the future plans for expansion of these centres.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: i) Day Facilities for the Elderly

There are 4 types of day facilities for the elderly:

a) Day Rehabilitative Centres

b) Senior Citizens Health Care Centres

c) Social Day Centres

d) Drop-in Centres

Day rehabilitative centres and Senior Citizens Health Care Centres are under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH). Social day centres and drop-in centres are under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development. Information on day rehabilitative centres and Senior Citizens Health Care Centres would be provided by MOH in relation to Question 4.

ii) Social Day Centres and Drop-in Centres

There are 4 social day centres which provide supervision and supportive help for the elderly when their family members are at work. These centres provide a range of social and recreational activities such as handicraft, keep fit exercises, group games and singing. They provide meals, and transport when required.

Drop-in centres are for the elderly to drop-by any time during the day to socialise with fellow senior citizens, watch TV programmes and read newspapers. The centres also organise activities like handicraft and simple exercises. There are 7 drop-in centres serving about 1,539 elderly users.

The number of places in these centres is adequate.

All these facilities are run by the voluntary welfare

organisations.

iii) Future Plans

The Government continually monitors demand and usage. The Government works with the VWOs to set up more facilities to meet demand.